Indonesia has thousands of islands, each of which has its own diversities. Papua is not an exception. Take West Papua, for ezample. This province has rich diversities from languages, cultures, and even the traditional clothes named Serui.
Wearing traditional clothes, Serui, is one of their practice of respect. This article will describe the philosophy of Serui as one of West Papua pride among provinces in Indonesia.
Serui – The Curious Traditional Clothes from West Papua
Women and men in Papua generally wear clothes that are almost same. Interestingly, Papuans wear tassel skirts made of knitted sago leaves. However, it is not only for the skirt, but sago leaves are also used as hair ornaments.
In terms of attire, inland women in Papua are not covering their chest. They would rather cover it up with tattoos. Aside from the tassel skirt, Papuans appear to use the Koteka on a variety of occasions.
Nowadays, the Papuans still wear this kind of clothes because it is the symbol of their respect for their ancestors. It represents their life to nature in order to remain connected to their ancestors.
The Rules for Wearing Serui
With respect to tradition and culture, one cannot wear traditional cloth without abiding to a certain set of rules. Here are some of the comoon rules:
Various Design of Koteka for Different Event
Koteka is a type of Papuan men’s clothing used to cover their genitals. Papuan men are almost completely naked. The Koteka is shaped like a conical sleeve with a rope tied around the waist.
In fact, the kinds of Koteka for daily use and special occasions are dissimilar. For everyday use, Koteka is fairly simple and plain, with no engraving, while the Koteka used in traditional ceremonies is longer and decorated with Papuan ethnic carvings.
The size of Koteka also shows different social statuses. The larger the size of a man’s Koteka, the higher his position in his customary order.
Tassel Skirt and Head Accessories are Worn Together
This rule applies specifically to women in West Papua. Tassel skirt made from dried Sago leaves is worn by women to cover their lower body, while the upper body is disguised with tattoos or ethnic-patterned paintings.
Sali – The Special Traditional Clothes for Single Women
The procedure for wearing traditional clothing in Papua is distinctive. Sali, a brown garment made from tree bark, can be worn by single women. Papuan women are no longer permitted to wear Sali after marriage.
However, the inland women in Papua wear Yokai, a sorrel garment made from tree bark. This cloth symbolizes closeness to nature, so it cannot be used carelessly or traded.
Three Main Accessories While Wearing Serui
People in West Papua can wear three main accessories to pair withSerui, as listed below:
- Dog teeth and pig tusks: a collar of dog teeth is looped around the neck, while pig tusks are attached near the nostrils.
- Headdress: this tassel-like ornament symbolizes the crown. The raw materials are cassowary feathers, rabbit fur, and dried sago leaves.
- Noken: the crocheted bag used to keep bounties like birds, rabbits, and rats. It can be worn as a backpack or a sash bag and is made of braided bark. Fruit, tubers, and horticultural veggies are all stored in Noken’s bag.
The people of West Papua always want to protect the inheritances of their ancestors forever. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the past and nowadays, the Papuan people still wear these traditional clothes, named Serui, in their daily life and activities.
